MS SQL Server Concepts and Programming Interview Preparation Guide
Refine your MS SQL Server interview skills with our 394 critical questions. Our questions cover a wide range of topics in MS SQL Server to ensure youre well-prepared. Whether youre new to the field or have years of experience, these questions are designed to help you succeed. Download the free PDF to have all 394 questions at your fingertips. This resource is designed to boost your confidence and ensure youre interview-ready.394 MS SQL Server Questions and Answers:
1 :: What is Microsoft SQL Server?
Microsoft SQL Server is a relational database management system (RDBMS) developed by Microsoft. It runs on Windows systems and uses Transact-SQL as the query language.
Microsoft SQL Server release history:
* 1993 - SQL Server 4.21 for Windows NT
* 1995 - SQL Server 6.0, codenamed SQL95
* 1996 - SQL Server 6.5, codenamed Hydra
* 1999 - SQL Server 7.0, codenamed Sphinx
* 1999 - SQL Server 7.0 OLAP, codenamed Plato
* 2000 - SQL Server 2000 32-bit, codenamed Shiloh (version 8.0)
* 2003 - SQL Server 2000 64-bit, codenamed Liberty
* 2005 - SQL Server 2005, codenamed Yukon (version 9.0)
* 2005 - SQL Server 2005 Express Edition, restricted free version
Microsoft SQL Server release history:
* 1993 - SQL Server 4.21 for Windows NT
* 1995 - SQL Server 6.0, codenamed SQL95
* 1996 - SQL Server 6.5, codenamed Hydra
* 1999 - SQL Server 7.0, codenamed Sphinx
* 1999 - SQL Server 7.0 OLAP, codenamed Plato
* 2000 - SQL Server 2000 32-bit, codenamed Shiloh (version 8.0)
* 2003 - SQL Server 2000 64-bit, codenamed Liberty
* 2005 - SQL Server 2005, codenamed Yukon (version 9.0)
* 2005 - SQL Server 2005 Express Edition, restricted free version
2 :: How to download Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition?
Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition is the free version of the Microsoft SQL Server 2005. If you are interested to try SQL Server 2005, you should follow this tutorial to download Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition:
1. Go to the Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition download page.
2. Go to the Files in This Download section, and click Download button next to the "SQLEXPR.EXE - 53.5 MB" file. The File Download box shows up.
3. Save the download file to C: emp directory. When the download is done, you should get the following file:
Name: SQLEXPR.EXE
Description: Microsoft SQL 2005 Server Express Edition
Location: C: emp
Size: 56,105,688 bytes
Version: 9.0.1399.6
1. Go to the Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition download page.
2. Go to the Files in This Download section, and click Download button next to the "SQLEXPR.EXE - 53.5 MB" file. The File Download box shows up.
3. Save the download file to C: emp directory. When the download is done, you should get the following file:
Name: SQLEXPR.EXE
Description: Microsoft SQL 2005 Server Express Edition
Location: C: emp
Size: 56,105,688 bytes
Version: 9.0.1399.6
3 :: System Requirements for SQL Server 2005 Express Edition?
The following system requirements cover the SQL Server 2005 Express Edition:
Processor
32-bit Processor of 600-megahertz (MHz) or faster
Operating System
Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or later
Windows 2000 Professional with SP4
Windows 2000 Server with Service Pack 4 or later
Windows Server 2003 Standard, or Enterprise SP1
Windows Server 2003 Web Edition SP1
Windows Small Business Server 2003 with SP1
Vista Home Basic and above
Framework
.NET Framework 2.0
Memory
512 megabytes (MB) or more recommended
Hard Disk
Approximately 425 MB of available hard-disk space
Processor
32-bit Processor of 600-megahertz (MHz) or faster
Operating System
Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or later
Windows 2000 Professional with SP4
Windows 2000 Server with Service Pack 4 or later
Windows Server 2003 Standard, or Enterprise SP1
Windows Server 2003 Web Edition SP1
Windows Small Business Server 2003 with SP1
Vista Home Basic and above
Framework
.NET Framework 2.0
Memory
512 megabytes (MB) or more recommended
Hard Disk
Approximately 425 MB of available hard-disk space
4 :: Why I am getting "The Microsoft .Net Framework 2.0 in not installed" message?
When you try to install SQL Server 2005 Express Edition, you may get a Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Setup error box with this message: "The Microsoft .Net Framework 2.0 in not installed. Please install before running setup."
You are getting this error, because .NET Framework 2.0 is not installed on your system yet. Read the next tutorial to download and install .NET Framework 2.0.
You are getting this error, because .NET Framework 2.0 is not installed on your system yet. Read the next tutorial to download and install .NET Framework 2.0.
5 :: How to download and install Microsoft .NET Framework Version 2.0?
.NET Framework Version 2.0 is required by many Microsoft applications like SQL Server 2005. If you want download and install .NET Framework Version 2.0, you should follow this tutorial:
1. Go to the Microsoft .NET Framework Version 2.0 Redistributable Package (x86) page.
2. Click the Download button. Save the download file dotnetfx.exe to c: emp.
3. Look at and compare the downloaded file properties with:
Name: dotnetfx.exe
Location: C: emp
Size: 23,510,720 bytes
Version: 2.0.50727.42
4. Close all IE (Internet Explorer) windows.
5. Double click the downloaded file: to c: empdotnetfx.exe. The Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 Setup windows shows up. Follow the instructions to finish the installation.
1. Go to the Microsoft .NET Framework Version 2.0 Redistributable Package (x86) page.
2. Click the Download button. Save the download file dotnetfx.exe to c: emp.
3. Look at and compare the downloaded file properties with:
Name: dotnetfx.exe
Location: C: emp
Size: 23,510,720 bytes
Version: 2.0.50727.42
4. Close all IE (Internet Explorer) windows.
5. Double click the downloaded file: to c: empdotnetfx.exe. The Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 Setup windows shows up. Follow the instructions to finish the installation.
6 :: What is mscorsvw.exe - Process - Microsoft .NET Framework NGEN?
Process mscorsvw.exe is installed as a system service as part of the .NET Framework 2.0. You can disable it, if you are not using any applications that require .NET Framework 2.0.
mscorsvw.exe process and program file info:
CPU usage: 00%
Memory usage: 2,704K
Launching method: System Service
Directory: C:WINDOWSMicrosoft.NETFrameworkv2.0.50727
File name: mscorsvw.exe
Description: .NET Runtime Optimization Service
Size: 66,240 bytes
Date: Friday, September 23, 2005, 7:28:56 AM
Version: 2.0.50727.42
Company name: Microsoft
System essential: No
Virus/Spyware/Adware: No
mscorsvw.exe process and program file info:
CPU usage: 00%
Memory usage: 2,704K
Launching method: System Service
Directory: C:WINDOWSMicrosoft.NETFrameworkv2.0.50727
File name: mscorsvw.exe
Description: .NET Runtime Optimization Service
Size: 66,240 bytes
Date: Friday, September 23, 2005, 7:28:56 AM
Version: 2.0.50727.42
Company name: Microsoft
System essential: No
Virus/Spyware/Adware: No
7 :: How to install SQL Server 2005 Express Edition?
Once you have downloaded SQL Server 2005 Express Edition, you should follow this tutorial to install it on your system:
1. Double click SQLEXPR.EXE. The setup window shows up.
2. Click Next to let the setup program to unpack all files from the downloaded file.
3. When unpack is down, the setup program will check all required programs on your system.
4. Then the setup program will start the installation process.
5. On the Authentication Mode window, click the radio button for Mixed Mode (Windows Authentication and SQL Server Authentication). And enter "GlbalGuideLine" in the "Specify the sa logon password below:" fields.
6. Continue to finish the installation process.
7. When installation is done, you will see a new program menu entry as: Start > Programs > Microsoft SQL Server 2005 > Configuration Tools.
1. Double click SQLEXPR.EXE. The setup window shows up.
2. Click Next to let the setup program to unpack all files from the downloaded file.
3. When unpack is down, the setup program will check all required programs on your system.
4. Then the setup program will start the installation process.
5. On the Authentication Mode window, click the radio button for Mixed Mode (Windows Authentication and SQL Server Authentication). And enter "GlbalGuideLine" in the "Specify the sa logon password below:" fields.
6. Continue to finish the installation process.
7. When installation is done, you will see a new program menu entry as: Start > Programs > Microsoft SQL Server 2005 > Configuration Tools.
8 :: What is sqlservr.exe - Process - SQL Server (SQLEX?PRESS)?
Process sqlservr.exe is the Microsoft SQL Server system service installed as part of the Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition.
mscorsvw.exe process and program file info:
CPU usage: 00%
Memory usage: 1,316K
Launching method: System Service
Directory: C:Program FilesMicrosoft SQL ServerMSSQL.1
MSSQLBinn
File name: sqlservr.exe
Description: SQL Server Windows NT
Size: 28,768,528 bytes
Date: Friday, October 14, 2005, 3:51:46 AM
Version: 2005.90.1399.0
Company name: Microsoft
System essential: No
Virus/Spyware/Adware: No
mscorsvw.exe process and program file info:
CPU usage: 00%
Memory usage: 1,316K
Launching method: System Service
Directory: C:Program FilesMicrosoft SQL ServerMSSQL.1
MSSQLBinn
File name: sqlservr.exe
Description: SQL Server Windows NT
Size: 28,768,528 bytes
Date: Friday, October 14, 2005, 3:51:46 AM
Version: 2005.90.1399.0
Company name: Microsoft
System essential: No
Virus/Spyware/Adware: No
9 :: How do you know if SQL Server is running on your local system?
After installing SQL Server 2006 Express Edition, it will be running on your local system quietly as a background process.
If you want to see this process is running, run Windows Task Manager. You should see a process called sqlservr.exe running in the process list:
sqlservr.exe 00 1,316 K
If you select sqlservr.exe and click the "End Process" button, SQL Server will be stopped.
If you can not find sqlservr.exe in the process list, you know that your SQL Server is running.
If you want to see this process is running, run Windows Task Manager. You should see a process called sqlservr.exe running in the process list:
sqlservr.exe 00 1,316 K
If you select sqlservr.exe and click the "End Process" button, SQL Server will be stopped.
If you can not find sqlservr.exe in the process list, you know that your SQL Server is running.
10 :: How to connect SQL Server Management Studio Express to SQL Server 2005 Express?
Once you have SQL Server 2005 Express installed and running on your local machine, you are ready to connect SQL Server Management Studio Express to the server:
Click Start > Programs > Microsoft SQL Server 2005 > SQL Server Management Studio Express to launch SQL Server Management Studio Express.
The "Connect to Server" box shows up. The Server Name field has a default value of "LOCALHOSTSQLEXPRESS". So don't change it. Select "SQL Server Authentication" as the Authentication. Enter enter "sa" as the Login, and "GlbalGuideLine" as the Password.
SQL Server 2005 Connect Window.
Click the Connect button, you should see the SQL Server Management Studio Express window comes up.
Click Start > Programs > Microsoft SQL Server 2005 > SQL Server Management Studio Express to launch SQL Server Management Studio Express.
The "Connect to Server" box shows up. The Server Name field has a default value of "LOCALHOSTSQLEXPRESS". So don't change it. Select "SQL Server Authentication" as the Authentication. Enter enter "sa" as the Login, and "GlbalGuideLine" as the Password.
SQL Server 2005 Connect Window.
Click the Connect button, you should see the SQL Server Management Studio Express window comes up.